Dynamite in a small package – The Asus EEE PC
The new is ideal for those of us in search of an easy to use device, without the fancy frills of its more technologically advanced counterparts.
Not to say that the EEE PC is not modern, it is just a little simpler to use and understand. The EEE PC is a lightweight, easy to use, compact and budget PC that connects you to the internet and does its job with no fuss. It’s ten times easier to use than a Windows machine, starts up twice as fast and costs a fraction of the price – what more could you ask for? If you are looking for a versatile piece of machinery and great value for money, this little beaut is for you. It’s very easy to use, and should appeal to adults and children alike. The menu is set up using simple tabs that offer clear options: Internet, Work, Play, Learn, Settings and Favourites. The EEE PC is useful for those who struggle to navigate their way through a computer’s resources. The seven-inch display is quite easy on the eye, but those used to bigger screens might take a while to get used to it.
Overall, the EEE PC boasts a solid design and is very travel-friendly – weighing in at less than a kilo (0.89kg, to be exact). This compact laptop features a SD card slot, two USB ports, and a VGA port on the right. On the left we have an extra USB port, Ethernet and modem connections, and a head phone and mic jacks. The hard-drive is solid-state (similar to flash-drive technology), which means that a bump or two won’t put your information at risk. The keyboard is a bit cramped and takes some getting used to. This mini notebook can do everything a regular Windows powered PC can do, and for less. The EEE PC is the ideal device for large families who usually fight over the rights to the primary PC.
With a variety of features and programmes, the EEE PC introduces a simple, user- friendly approach to PC handling. Young ones can enjoy word games like Hangman and math games like Tux of Math Command, while teens and parents can enjoy various Microsoft compatible applications, including Documents, Spreadsheets and Presentations. The Asus also boasts a file manager utility, a PDF reader, the Thunderbird e-mail client and a Notes application.
This device can play MP3s and WMAs stored on a memory card, while a built in mic performs great when making Skype calls. The EEE PC also does a good job at MPEG-4 videos and plays surprisingly smooth on the seven-inch display. The Photo Manager, on the other hand, takes a while to load large images.
Surfing the internet is pretty easy and speedy, although not as fast as on other devices. This snappy device handles Web 2.0 powered by Ajax technology or Flash with ease. Most of the applications are quick to load, and the 512 RAM is more than enough to operate the system. On the downside, there is only 4GB of storage space.
There is a lot to like about the Asus EEE laptop; however, there are a few tell tale signs that more could have been done before releasing it onto the market. For example, the webcam cannot work with the preloaded Skype programme or Pignin instant messaging programme. The reason: Asus is still working on drivers for the webcam and promises to launch it soon.
You might wonder why you should opt for an EEE PC as opposed to a laptop with a bigger screen, better specs and more memory. The EEE PC is great as a secondary computer for the household, and a great device for children to learn on. It is also great for people who do not have the time to learn the complicated workings of a regular PC and instead wants a user friendly model that saves time and money. The Asus EEE brings affordable computing to all and it looks great as well.
To finish off, the EEE comes in a large variety of flavours for the discerning user. All the models have the Pentium Celeron 900Mhz as its CPU, but they range mostly in terms of storage space – with the 700-W having 2GB of storage, ranging up to the 702-CW with its 8GB. While not immediately available, the EEE is also going to be released in a variety of colours for those who prefer a more personal touch.
Finally, for the geek at heart, I came across an excellent article which allows you to modify the Linux installation to allow a little more functionality. Of course, if you’re not a Linux fan, the laptop does come with instructions that will allow a minimum size install of Windows XP, which this little machine is quite capable of running. For tips on customising the Asus EEE, visit .
The EEE PC is available at most online stores – stocks all the models with prices ranging from R3,200 to R5,200.
Laptops & Notebooks | Amber | 
March 13, 2008 7:55 am
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By , June 4, 2008 @ 8:10 am
Please forward price on the EEE PC.